[TR] Silver Peak circut- NW shoulder 4/23/2006

[Jim]

Climb: Silver Peak circut-NW shoulder

 

Date of Climb: 4/23/2006

 

Trip Report:

Four of us fueled up at the Issaquah Cafe before heading up to the pass. We left one car at the Annette Lake trailhead and then piled in the other for the pass. We started at the Silver Fir chair at the summit. There were a couple folks starting to tour the Catherine loop and such, and a handful of boarders tromping up for a ride in the sun.

 

We headed to Grand Junction and then through Windy Pass. By the time we got to the pass the snow was starting to soften a bit so that help me to dodge the trees. We got into the basin and as usual the past couple years the stink-mobiles had cut up the slopes pretty bad already, though they are not allowed back there. Nothing new.

 

We gained the shoulder under and through some relatively non-threating cornices. Lunch and naps were on the schedule for the next hour or so. The Cascades were impressive and one feels lucky having such access to the peaks in your backyard.

 

I dug a pit and the recent snow layer was obvious. It released following 4 hand taps, 4 elbow taps, and 3 full arm taps. Yellow flag at the most so we proceeded to cut a couple of traverse lines, then stomped a lot, then made several hard turns. All systems go!

 

We kept an eye out but it was a hoot and holler down 1,200 ft or so to the lake with no signs of other skiers and the stinkmobiles left on the other side of the ridge. The snowpack was good enough that we crossed the lake and skied down the west side of the valley all the way to the John Wayne Trail. Some impressive avy debris had come off the west walls this spring but didn't make it too far across the valley so we had a pleasant ski down.

 

Had a beer at the car, retrieved the one at the pass and made it home for dinner . Most excellent day.

 

Gear Notes:

Teleboards, sunscreen

 

Approach Notes:

The snow pack on the west side of the valley on the way out will not last too long. May want to consider the hiking trail for the ski down soon.